9 Harsh Truth Lessons You Need to Know

It’s not easy to hear the harsh truth about life. But most of them are inevitable. So, you’ll be a step ahead if you learn them now. Besides, knowing what to expect is imperative for success. Life is tough! Don’t assume it’ll be all rainbows and puppies.

Be courageous and prepare yourself now because these brutal truths apply to everyone.

I won’t lie to you or coddle your emotions to try and make you think you’ll never face obstacles. That’s not why Motivated Progress is here. It’s about demolishing the issues that hold you back so you can live a better life.

Deal? Alright, let’s do this!

These are the harsh truth lessons you need to know about:

1. It’s a harsh truth that you will suffer

“The reward of suffering is experience.” — Harry S Truman

Everyone goes through painful times. There’s no avoiding it. So, you’re wise to learn how to handle them beforehand!

When you’re in a bad situation, you’ll feel like it’s the end of the world. Realize that while it feels awful, over time, you will adjust. Also, when you overcome that situation, you’ll be stronger for it.

2. The harsh truth is that nothing entitles you to success

It doesn’t matter what degree you have, where you come from, or what you look like; nothing guarantees success. We all need to figure it out step-by-step.

Furthermore, every journey is different, depending on what you’re trying to accomplish. But if you’re willing to put in the sustained effort, then you can achieve any goal.

3. You’ll fail before you succeed is a harsh truth

“The phoenix must burn to emerge.” — Janet Fitch

It’s normal to fail a few times before you reach the finish line. But that’s because you’re learning. It’s no reason to quit. When you fall short of your expectations, it isn’t a sign to give up all hope. It means there’s a lesson you need to learn, and messing up is what allows you to fix those issues. You learn from it and grow. 

Then you’ll succeed.

Unfortunately, some people think it signifies that they aren’t talented and never will be. So, they beat themselves up for it and quit.

When they could have learned one lesson to move closer to their goal.

If you focus on learning from your mistakes, then you’ll build a ton of knowledge and experience.

4. If you don’t manage your time, someone else will

“Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.”

— Mother Teresa

The past is over, and the future doesn’t exist yet, so right now is all that matters. It’s the only time that you have control over it, so take advantage of it. Schedule what’s important to you.

Protect your valuable time. Silence your phone (including vibrate), and tell everyone in your home that you’re busy.

Schedule a time for your passion and don’t allow anyone to steal it.

5. Accept the harsh truth that some people won’t like you

“Care about people’s approval, and you will always be their prisoner.”

— Lao Tzu

No matter how incredible you are, some people still won’t like you. But don’t fight against this fact, accept it. You weren’t put here for everyone to approve of you.

You’re here to make a positive difference in the world. Focus on that and let the haters fade into the mist.

5. Nothing will be as fantastic (or as disastrous) as you think

“You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you.”

— James Allen

We tend to over-dramatize our future, whether we fear a negative outcome or believe something will bring endless joy.

If your biggest fear happens, it will hurt. But, it won’t be as atrocious as you imagined. In fact, you’ll gain some experience and wisdom because of it!

The same goes for reaching a goal. It feels fantastic, but over time that fades away, like a hedonistic adaptation.

Hedonistic adaptation is a fancy way to say that you soon adapt to what you wanted. For example, let’s say you just bought your dream car, and you think it’ll fill your life with happiness. 

Nevertheless, after a few months, you’re already used to it. 

You stop washing it all the time and scrubbing the wheels. Moreover, now you’re gawking at other vehicles and thinking, “Maybe that would make me happy?”

Regardless of the circumstances, eventually, people return to their default level of happiness. The only way to gain more bliss is by taking on the challenge of solving your root problems.

7. You need to stop talking and start doing

“Destiny is for losers. It’s just a stupid excuse to wait for things to happen instead of making them happen.”

— Blair Waldorf

Stop sitting around, talking about your vision. Start working towards it!

You’re wasting time droning on and on about it. You’ll never reach that ideal image in your mind if your hands don’t turn it into a reality. If you want it intensely enough, you must bring it to fruition. So, less talking, more walking!

8. You must learn to be alone

“I love to be alone. I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude.”

— Henry David Thoreau

Face the harsh truth that there will be times where you’ll be alone. Furthermore, if you don’t feel comfortable in your own company, it’ll be torture.

However, it doesn’t need to be this way. Solitude can be a time where your creativity soars and new ideas are born. I doubt Motivated Progress would be here if I didn’t spend nine months with my thoughts in the desert.

If you don’t learn to savor being alone, you run the risk of becoming clingy, needy, and annoying. So, train yourself to be more independent from the pack.

9. Reaching your goals isn’t effortless

“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.”

— Colin Powell

Reaching a worthy goal is arduous work. Don’t let people lie to you and say, “you can easily reach your goal in a day.” While that may be true for insignificant achievements, it’s nothing life-changing.

It’s a harsh truth to realize how much you’ll need to work to achieve your dream. If this makes you want to give up, then how much did you genuinely want your goal?

In short, it takes a brave person to face life’s harsh truths. Congratulations, you made it! Reality isn’t always enjoyable; occasionally, there’ll be unpleasant situations. But, now, you’re prepared to handle these brutal truths in the best way possible!

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What are your thoughts about these harsh truths? Let me know in the comments section below!